Risk Calculations
January 30, 2007
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Fairy Godmothers Carrie and Danielle share their wisdom: “Security is mostly superstition.â€- Helen Keller
We recently met with a very successful business man for some advice about growing our company. The conversation quickly turned to perceptions of risk versus gain. “Early on in the company,†he told us, “I offered five employees lower salaries in exchange for stocks in the business. One of them took it, four of them declined.†(As it turns out, the four who declined were all women. They wanted more security.) That same company is now worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
Today’s Magic Wand: Examine what feels scary, but invigorating to you…terrifying, but totally thrilling. Where do you pull back, when really, you’re longing to spread your wings? Now ask yourself: what would you be risking if you reached for the upside of that creative tension? We encourage you to peel that question like an onion. Ask it repeatedly, until what’s truly at risk becomes clear. We wager that fears associated with risk are rarely about money or physical comforts, and more often about how we’ll be perceived by others.
Exposure is the engine of risk. Sometimes what’s revealed is dramatic and sweeping, and sets huge effects in motion. And sometimes, a risk is the choice to share your idea, to live for the moment, or to let someone see you cry…or fly.
Win or lose, taking a risk will show you more of what you’re made of.
(As it turns out, the four who declined were all women. They wanted more security.)
This kind of story really leaves me at a loss. There is no security. What they wanted was the ‘feeling’ of security. I just don’t get that mentality.
You’re a true entrepreneur, Jeff. You’re right! There’s no security in business no matter whether its yours or someone else’s, however, many single moms or women I know who work are nervous about going to work for a start up or having their own because they want benefits and the mental peace that a business has a track record…but even then…there’s lay-offs, right? I guess if everyone lived their dreams we couldn’t hire anyone, eh?
Kelly …
THANX for the kind words, hopefully my writing gets better over time, and YES, I did purchase the previously mentioned “Domain.” (Perhaps I should make a Kelly Anderson Fan Site with it? J/K)
Hello David, thanks for the visit! For those of you who don’t know this Start Up Prince, he’s founder of Mobile O/X and I coached him a bit at last week’s BYU Elevator Pitch competition. He was at a Blogger dinner I was at last week. He has a great product and a brand-new blog called startupandgo.com; check it out. He’s so new he came to my site to reply to my comment…aah, the first days of blogging.
[…] focuses on actionable things you can do to help your business. Here are a couple examples: Risk Calculations and Medidate, Get Inspired and Record Your Entrepreneur […]